The 1st day of the Earth month. It's still a little early in the morning for
breakfast, but there's something… worrying about.
[…Kaito-kun?]
Kuro, who has been sitting on my lap with a bag of baby castellas
(cream-lavored today) in her hand, notices my troubles and asks.
Meeting Kuro's gaze, even though I'm somewhat nervous, I spoke.
[…Kuro, there's actually something I have to tell you.]
[Unnn?]
What I'm thinking about at this moment is… Yes, it's Isis-san.
I have received Isis-san's confession, but my reply to her was put on
hold.
For the Japanese me's mind, since I have a girlfriend named Kuro, I'll
have to decline Isis-san's confession… However, rejecting Isis-san who
is so wholehearted in love with me… isn't something I want to do.
This is where the common sense of this world comes into play. In this
world, polygamy is just the norm, and men are supposed to marry more
than one woman.
However, even if that is so, that doesn't mean I can just get used to it,
and that's why I'm troubled right now.
And most importantly, if I accepted polygamy and responded to Isissan's feelings… I'm more concerned about what Kuro would think.
I would need lots of courage to talk to her about it, however, not talking
about it to her isn't an option.
So now, while I'm alone with Kuro like this, the confession I've received
from Isis-san, and that I'm still withholding my response… and the fact
that I'm beginning to be attracted to Isis-san as well, I've decided to talk
about it to her without hiding anything at all.
I was quite nervous explaining to her about the situation, but Kuro
didn't interrupt me and continued to silently listen.
When I inished explaining everything, I slowly let out a sigh.
[…And that's the situation… Errr, Kuro… Ummm, what do you think?]
Feeling like a defendant waiting for the judge's sentence, I wrung that
question out of my mouth, and in response, Kuro turned towards me…
and brightly smiled.
[Isn't that good!? For Isis to like you that much, as expected of Kaitokun!]
[…Ehh?]
Arehh? Her reaction is kinda different from what I was expecting.
How should I say this, I was expecting that she would scold me for
being unfaithful or ask me if I even have the ability to cheat with two
people or something like that… Rather than that, doesn't she sound
kind of happy?
[K- Kuro… Is that really ine with you?]
[Eh? What is?]
[I- I mean, I- I'm now Kuro's boyfriend… but don't you feel that me
liking Isis-san is being unfaithful…]
[Why? I'd be happy if Kaito-kun and Isis became lovers… Ahh, I see…
Speaking of which…]
Kuro, who has been tilting her head as if she's really wondering, seems
to have gotten some idea and started thinking with her hand on her
chin.
After a few moments of silence, Kuro returns her gaze to me and opens
her mouth.
[…As I recall, in Kaito-kun's world, it's normal to have only one
marriage partner, right?]
[Y- Yeah.]
Of course, there are also some cases of people getting remarried, and I
heard that there is polygamy in some other countries but… At least, in
modern Japan, monogamy is the norm.
When she saw me nod, Kuro crossed her arms and tilted her head in
contemplation.
[Hmmm… I see, so that's what troubles you…]
[…So, I thought I'd ask Kuro's opinion on that.]
[…I've only heard about Kaito-kun's world from Shiro and the children
who played the role of Hero in the past, so I don't know much about it
but… Hmmm. This is quite dificult. Kaito-kun, did you know that boys
in this world marry more than one girl?]
[Yeah.]
[I've been living in this world my entire life. So, I can't help but think in
terms of the common sense of this world, and since Kaito-kun is my
irst ever boyfriend, I don't think I can even say anything that would be
very helpful. Sorry.]
Kuro knows a certain amount of things about my world, and she seems
to have igured out what my problems are right away.
However, Kuro is still a resident of this world, so she can't help but
think in a way that is closer to the common sense of this world.
I certainly feel like my thoughts are more drawn by the common sense
of my original world at the moment, so I know how she feels… It really
seems like our ideas of love and marriage are different.
[…For argument's sake though… if I already have my lover named Kuro,
but I also fell in love with Isis and went out with her… No, if I marry a
lot more, and not just you two… What would Kuro think?]
[I would obviously be happy.]
[Y- You'd be happy?]
[Unnn. I mean, look, wouldn't that show that my beloved Kaito-kun is a
fantastic boy who is liked by lots of girls?]
[...…]
It's like we have a very different way of thinking.
What I think was that dating more than one woman is being unfaithful,
but when it comes to the people of this world, it seems to be a factor for
a person's status, and something that isn't an object of jealousy.
I don't know if Kuro is the only one who thinks this way or if it's also the
same way for other people, but I think it's best if I ask a few people's
opinion irst.
[…And so, that's why I was consulting you…]
[E- Errr, Kaito-san? Since when are you dating Underworld King-sama?]
[…Just the other day.]
[I- Is that so, congratulations. (The irst one to make her move really is
Underworld King-sama huh, well, I had some guesses seeing how Kaitosan is acting now but… Mnngghh, small-statured women like her really
must be Kaito-san's taste huh?)]
I'm currently standing before Sieg-san, who had a puzzled expression
on her face.
I thought I'd like to hear other people's opinions as well, so after Kuro
went home, I thought I'd visit Sieg-san, explaining the situation to her
and asked her about her opinion.
[So, if it's alright with you, I was wondering if you'd be willing to share
your opinion…]
[E- Errr… Why me? (Are you sure you're not asking the wrong person?)]
[Errr, Sieg-san kind of looks like a mature woman, so I thought you
would be able to give me some good answers if I consult you about it…]
[I- I see. (I'm sorry, that's impossible! I've never been in a relationship
before!)]
I'm not sure if my question was too abrupt or not, but Sieg-san looks
kind of troubled.
Of course, I don't intend to force her to answer about all sorts of stuff,
but the irst person who came to my mind when I thought of someone I
can talk to was Sieg-san.
[Of course, I still intend to igure it out on my own in the end, but if
possible, I'd like to discuss it with you for a bit… I'd like to have some
advice…]
[L- Let's see. Errr… (Can you please not look at me with eyes full of
expectations!? Something, I need to say something…)]
[Sieg-san?]
[N- No, errr… The difference in common sense between your world and
Kaito-san's world, it may have been partly due to the fact that there are
many women in this world, but I think it's also due to the fact that there
are many long-lived species existing here, just like my kin.]
I see, there certainly are many people in this world like the elves who
are long-lived… and even those who didn't have the concept of life span
at all.
That's also probably why other than the Humans in this world, the
people of this world are quite calm in regards to the low of time.
Even if you're married to many women, they must have some kind of
wider range of senses in terms like how long they haven't talked for a
long time and how they haven't seen each other lately.
[There certainly are some exceptions. For example, my father was only
married to my mother… but people like him are quite rare. In fact,
people even call my father an eccentric for it.]
[…I see.]
[I also greatly feel like men are supposed to marry lots of women.]
I guess that's really something that is obvious for the people in this
world huh.
Hmmm, I wonder if it's okay to like Isis-san too, without worrying
about it? No, it would be like putting the cart before the horse if I just
decided to be ambiguous about it and end up making Kuro and Isis-san
sad, so let's not slacken and properly think about it.
[…There's something I'd like to ask, just for reference though…]
[Yes, what is it?]
[If, for example… This is just for example, but if Sieg-san and I were
lovers…]
[ ! ? (B- Being lovers with Kaito-san?… I- I'm glad… wait, stop thinking
about that!?)]
I decided to ask Sieg-san the same question I had asked Kuro.
[And even though we're lovers, I was loved by another woman, and I
also love that woman, how would Sieg-san feel?]
[I would be very delighted to see that Kaito-san is liked by a lot of
women… (Or rather, that's pretty much the situation at the moment, isn't
it?)]
It seems that is really what she would think huh.
The idea that it's pleasing for a man to be liked by a lot of women isn't
just Kuro's, as Sieg-san also seems to have the same thoughts, and I felt
a little bit comforted after hearing that.
[Thank you very much. Hearing your thoughts really helps me.]
[No, no… It's just if you want to ask for advice for that, wouldn't it be
better for Kaito-san to ask for the opinion of the same gender?]
[I see! You're right, thank you very much! As I thought, I'm glad I talked
to Sieg-san about it.]
[That's something you don't really have to be that thankful though. (I'm
sorry. I just digressed and threw the conversation to other people. I'm a
coward… So, could you please not look at me with glittering eyes!? I'm
starting to feel like running away here, you know!?)]
Indeed, if you're going to talk about these kinds of problems, it's easier
to talk about various things in depth with someone of the same gender.
And just as I heard about her mention it, I thought of the best person to
talk to.
That's right. I'm going to consult with Orchid… Orchid is married, has a
gentle demeanor and is easy to talk to.
Dear Mom, Dad——- I've started to think about my reply to Isis-san, but
as someone who had a different common sense that I'm accustomed to,
it's dificult for me to change it and I'm quite confused. However, thanks
to Sieg-san——– I now know who I should be talking to.